United States Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazer outlined the DOI’s energy strategy to a packed room at a luncheon held Wednesday, April 25 at NDN/New Policy Institute. Click here to watch the video of Salazar's speech.

Under the Obama Administration, Secretary Salazar and the DOI have made remarkable progress through their 'all-of-the-above' approach to energy over the last three years. The United States' gas production is at an all-time high and oil production has increased by 13% during the first three years of this Administration. Correspondingly, America’s dependence on foreign oil has decreased every year since Obama took office. In 2008, we had a net import of 57%, but with Obama's energy policies in place, by 2011, our net import was 45%, the lowest level in16 years.

Secretary Salazar pointed out that DOI has made significant strides in promoting renewable energy technologies on federal lands. Since 2009, DOI has authorized 29 utility scale solar, wind and geothermal projects and, if built, will provide 6,5000 MW of clean power for 2.3 million homes.

This speech by Secretary Salazar was the 10th in the Clean Energy Initiative’s Solution Series to showcase the leaders, companies, ideas and policies who are hastening our transition to a cleaner, safer and more distributed energy paradigm of the 21st century.

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